The effects of modified RNA-binding proteins HuR on the biological behavior of the bladder cancer T24 cell line

Background: In tumors, the role of human antigen R (HuR) includes regulating tumor cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis. Previous studies have revealed that the expression of HuR can be detected in bladder cancer, and is related to the biological behavior of malignancy. Methods: T24 cells were transfected by HuR overexpression and HuR knockdown vectors, and divided into the control group, the overexpression-HuR group, and the cas9-HuR group. Cell viability was detected after 48 h by methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-allophycocyanin (APC)/7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) double staining, cell migration was detected by Transwell assays, and the expression levels of HuR, cyclin D1, and apoptosis-related factors [i.e., B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)] were detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot. Results: Compared to the control group, cell viability after 48 h increased significantly in the overexpression-HuR group, and decreased significantly in the cas9-HuR group (P<0.05). The number of migrating cells increased significantly in the overexpression-HuR group, and decreased significantly in the cas9-HuR group (P<0.05). The apoptosis rate was significantly decreased in the overexpression-HuR group, and significantly increased in the cas9-HuR group (P<0.05). The messenger ribonucleic acid and protein expression levels of HuR, cyclin D1, and Bcl-2 were significantly increased in the overexpression-HuR group, and significantly decreased in the cas9-HuR group (P<0.05). Conclusions: HuR promotes the proliferation and migration of T24 cells, and inhibits cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to the expression of cyclin D and the apoptosis-related protein, Bcl-2.